Pages

Monday, April 2, 2012

I'm Obsessed: White Eyelet Sundresses

Readers, have you read the book Garden Spellsby Sarah Addison Allen? It's one of those magical, whimsical, romantic books that I devour--and Jeff rolls his eyes at. (Seriously, read it.) The magical, whimsical, romantic main character often wears a white eyelet sundress while doing magical, whimsical, romantic things. The idea of the white eyelet sundress has been implanted in my brain ever since, and I'm convinced that wearing one will make one's life 100% more whimsical.

And since it's sundress sewing season (yay!), it's time to start planning. I love a strappy style with a full skirt, like this Lilly Pulitzer from a past season (though I'd prefer more substantial straps).

I also love this sultry D&G number Eva Mendes wore.

Hey, you know what would be perfect? Using my "bombshell dress" bodice with two straps and a full skirt. Right?

Anyway, there are lots of sundress patterns out there, and white eyelet fabric is cheap and plentiful. Line it with a soft white batiste and you're good to go!

To increase my whimsicality and romance factor, I envision riding my new pink bike (just ordered!) while wearing my white eyelet sundress. I should probably get a front basket to fill with flowers and baguettes and puppies too. (Too much?)

I love the white eyelet sundress, too, but have to make one very different from my white eyelet First Communion Dress (which also had pink flowers on it - thanks for making that, Mom!!). This is a great summer sewing kickoff project.

My bike commuter self wonders if there is a white faux eyelet bike helmet out there waiting for you...?

Funny you should suggest this. I'm starting your bombshell dress this weekend, and I'm making it from coral colored eyelet! White would be gorgeous, too, but it intimidates me. And I've had this eyelet for years, waiting for the perfect project.

A sundress in "eyelet" sounds so pretty. Trying to remember the english name for the fabric, and it's "broderie anglaise". I've actually got a length of it stached away - can't remember what it was intended for!

Oh, yes - wonderful book; one of my all time favorites. And several years ago, I had a beautiful white eyelet sundress (with beaded details, no less) that I wore till it fell apart. Thanks for reminding me that I need another!

My mister continually makes fun of me whenever I read ridiculous romance novels! Or watch romance movies! I hear you on a white eyelet sundress - sigh. I don't think you could fall in love UNLESS you were wearing a white eyelet sundress either. Plus it would make reading another romance novel that much more pleasurable. The pink bike is to. die. for! Yes you need a basket to fill with flowers - but also champagne and strawberries and a romance novel. Love!xoxo, Sunni

My original wedding dress was a white eyelet dress... I'm wearing it in my profile pic, but you can only see that it has a collar. It's belted and collared and I have one in black too!

Also, living in Amsterdam has changed what I think about bicycles... adding a puppy (or a kitten) basket to your bike is tame by comparison to some of the bikes I've seen here. Go wild! Add colorful panniers to carry groceries. :D

Love love love the bike!! and yes - you definitely need a basket filled with flowers and a baguette. The puppy will eat either the flowers or the baguette or will try to jump out. The kitties will not approve.

A pink Oma fiets! (grandma bike) I want one but in light blue. Maybe someday....

Love the idea of a white eyelet sundress but, alas, I have a 3 year-old son and that means messy hands touch my clothes all the time. I'm afraid it wouldn't last a day! :) I love the idea of using the bombshell dress as a departure point.

Nope that's not too much! I love that bike, looking forward to seeing photos of it! This dress is gorgeous and so flowing and romantic. Will definitely check out the book! XxxX http://thesecondhandrose.blogspot.co.uk/

Thank you for your fab timing..bought some slightly expensive white eyelet online yesterday, after a glass of white wine, and was feeling a bit guilty......hey presto, one look at your blog and I feel vindicated, and inspired...yee hah!

There must be something in the air -- I've been thinking about white cotton sundresses for weeks too. Still trying to decide if I want to go with eyelet or crisp white cotton with pintuck detail. Hmm hmm, gotta decide before spring is here in earnest!

How very Audrey you will look on that bicycle with your flowers etc! What about large white-framed sunglasses to go with it all? Time to start perfecting your I'm-so-adorable-but-I-dont-know-it look :)

I think I need to make one too! I'm a little backed up right now, trying to finish the bombshell dress for a cruise in 2 weeks, then there is the yellow dress (which I'm making in a cherry print)... So little time, so many dresses!

I'm with you on the white eyelet sundress. I've always wanted one. Maybe this should be the year!

And you MUST HAVE the wicker basket filled with flowers! The perfect accessory! You wouldn't wear clothing without the proper accessories, would you? Don't let your bike go out in public without them either!

eyelet sundress: that's cutebombshell dress: hmmm...well... yes that's a good idea.bike: OMG! I am so doing this and then I'm gonna bake some cinnamon rolls, make my own lemonade and then head out on the countryside just riding my bike in my bombshell eyelet dress! :) (and yes, I did buy a bike last sunday! but it's orange, not so romantique)

Awww jealous of the bike. I had a similar one several years ago in bright green with white saddle. When I moved countries I had to sell it ;( I can perfectly picture you riding it with the basket full of groceries and flowers ;)

I'm not a pink bicycle nor eyelet dress kind of girl, but I can provide you with baguettes. White, whole grain, sesame, spelt, poppy seeds ? (I nay on embarking puppies/kitties on the bike. While theoretically cute, it proves unmanageable in real life. There is so much you can do for a cute snapshot.)

If you're going for the full-skirt version, don't forget to sew something with a bit of weight in your seam. Or cycling will become more of a struggle to keep that skirt down and not go Marilyn on everyone ;-)

It's not too much at all!!! I love the vision of bike riding with a summer dress. There is a vintage ladies red schwin at our salvation army store. Now I'm thinking maybe it would be a perfect wardrobe accessory.

Reading her latest, The Girl Who Chased the Moon. Lot's of magic related to cakes and baking which is not helping me stick to my diet. It's a blissful read. Love the pink Dutch bike. I'm in deep envy. Also, if you insist on wearing a white eyelet sundress while you ride this beautiful bike it MUST be on a quiet country lane that ends at an Anne of Green Gables house. Can't wait to see the dress when it's done.

Dear Gertie.I don't know about you, but for me, that would lead to deception. The white is an undoubtelly unflattering colour in my figure. I makes me fat. Look at Eva Mendes. Even she looks plummy. Imagine me. Nay.http://mertxeshomesewing.blogspot.com.es/

Love the bike, first of all Love the white eyelet too. I just did a white eyelet dress for the sewvivor contest--but I lined it in black and added black piping. Love the contrast. But white eyelet just screams spring!!

Have you tried using dryer sheets that are unscented/undyed? My son has skin allergies, so I use that kind when washing clothes that would otherwise stick to each other something fierce when taken out of the dryer.

I wash my fabrics a day or so before sewing them, as I seldom have a block of time long enough to wash, and press, and cut, and start sewing, in sequence.

The real question is, will you ear a helmet with your dress and bike? It kills the look (and the hair) but is oh-so-important for head safety. Head safety is the bain of all my biking-in-dresses fantasies!

No helmet... must be either a wide brimmed straw hat or a cloche with a flower and wide ribbon trim on it. Since you aren't riding on an actual car traveled road on this, merely some fantasy Thomas Kincaid country lane (with dubious light sources), it should all be good. Oh, in the basket, no puppy, a cotton table/ground cloth and a book of poetry instead.